Overview

Set in Los Angeles two days before the end of 1999, Strange Days introduces us to Lenny Nero Ralph Fiennes, an ex-cop turned sleazy hustler who hawks the newest underground thrill on the black market: a "squid," a headpiece that allows one to transmit digital recordings of other people's thoughts, feelings, and memories into their brain; as Lenny describes it, "this is real life, pure and uncut, straight from the cerebral cortex." Lenny deals "clips" the software as well as "squids" the hardware for this new and ...

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Overview

Set in Los Angeles two days before the end of 1999, Strange Days introduces us to Lenny Nero Ralph Fiennes, an ex-cop turned sleazy hustler who hawks the newest underground thrill on the black market: a "squid," a headpiece that allows one to transmit digital recordings of other people's thoughts, feelings, and memories into their brain; as Lenny describes it, "this is real life, pure and uncut, straight from the cerebral cortex." Lenny deals "clips" the software as well as "squids" the hardware for this new and illegal entertainment system, and while sex and violence are the most popular themes, Lenny refuses to deal in "blackjack" -- slang for snuff clips. Lenny is nursing a broken heart after his girlfriend, punk singer Faith Justin Juliette Lewis, left him, and he spends a lot of time with clips he recorded when they were together. Faith is now involved with Philo Grant Michael Wincott, a music business tycoon who once managed Jeriko One Glenn Plummer, a hip-hop musician and political activist whose murder has sent L.A. into a state of chaos. When a clip emerges that shows that Jeriko was killed by L.A. police officers, Lenny finds his life in danger, and he tries to escape possible death on both sides of the law with the help of his friend Mace Mason Angela Bassett. Strange Days was written by James Cameron in collaboration with former film critic Jay Cocks; Kathryn Bigelow directed.

Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
- Robert Firsching

Film buffs will want to see this stylish futuristic thriller for the opening sequence alone. Utilizing a specially designed subjective camera, director Kathryn Bigelow takes the viewer from a car into a building, up the stairs, across the roof, and over the edge in a single, astounding take. Without a cut. The scene is pure filmmaking at its most exuberant and sets the stage for this absorbing tale of virtual reality and brainwashing in a dynamic, breathtaking manner. The rest of the film is similarly flamboyant, and the climactic chase scenes through the crowds at the millennial New Year's celebration are wonderfully exciting. Bigelow, whose skill as a visual stylist was already well-evidenced by the cult favorite Near Dark (1987) and the underrated Blue Steel (1990), has outdone herself here, and the results are spectacular.

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Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Posted October 1, 2010

Interesting Addition to Cyber-Punk

While certainly no Blade Runner it is definately an interesting addition to the cyber-punk genre. The story presents an interesting look at what LA or any modern city has the potential to become with economic decay and racial tensions seething just below the surface. The idea of a technology that is so multifaceted as to allow for such discrete and intrusive surveillence as well as the mental highs it would offer is intriguing in its own right. Put together the idea makes for a unique near future dystopia that is believable with only a few "what ifs". Feinnes plays a good tortured character and this was my first introduction to Angela Bassets work and I have become a big fan. The sound track for the movie is also great.

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Anonymous

Posted October 1, 2010

2 out of 10

Strange Days is an insane film. The story is too stupid to be comprehended. I wasn't aware that L.A. was that bad by the time of the 2000 celebration. If it's true, should those characters be better off getting out of the city rather than staying in? I had my expectations a little high for this film due to Ralph Fiennes. As much respect I have for Ralph Fiennes, I think he played his role decently, but it is not enough to carry the weight of the film. Strange Days is too long. An hour cut from the film will be sufficient, but it won't prevent Strange Days being delivered as a terribly bad film. The best aspect of this film is when Juliette Lewis gets naked. Sounds silly, doesn't it? Although I was amazed with the direction, by Kathryn Bigelow, in the film Point Break, Strange Days is a let-down for me.

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Anonymous

Posted October 1, 2010

chrystal

Strange Days

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